Jean Adam (1710—65) Poet
Jean Adam was born in Greenock, the daughter of a shipmaster. Orphaned at an early age she became a governess and later established a school for girls in Greenock. Her only collection of poems, Miscellany Poems, was published in 1734, but she is best remembered as the supposed author of 'The Song of the Mariner's Wife' or, as it is better known, 'There's nae luck aboot the hoose', which was included in his collection of 1776 by David Herd. After living in poverty in London, Jean Adam died in a Glasgow poorhouse on 2 April 1765.
Return
To Famous Scots
